★ * John Doukas, basileopator (father of the emperor)* ★

PB Byzantine seal of John Doukas, basileopator (1071)
Obv: Inscription of four lines: Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ. Border of dots.
Rev: Inscription of four lines: βασιλεοπάτορι τῷ Δούκᾳ. Border of dots.
Translation: Lord, help your servant John Doukas, basileopator.
Parallel specimen, Doaks, BZS.1955.1.3008.
The title of basileopator ("father of the emperor"), bestowing upon the recipient a quasi-paternal authority with regard to the emperor, is rarely attested (Oikonomides, Listes, 307). G. Zacos and A. Veglery maintained that Ioannes Doukas was appointed βασιλεοπάτωρ in the first years of the reign of his nephew, Michael VII (1071-1078), since he was the emperor’s chief advisor and played a crucial role in his government of the empire.
Weight: 12.20 g.
Diameter: 21.74 mm.